The U.S. government refused to grant a visa to National Union MK
Michael Ben Ari, on the basis of his membership in a "terror
organization."

Ben Ari recently submitted a request to the U.S. consulate for a
visa, so he could take part in two conferences held in the United
States this week, one aimed at encouraging aliyah to Israel.

In response, however, he was told that he cannot be granted the visa
based on a clause that allows the U.S. State Department to prohibit
the entrance of people who were involved in terror activities or were
members of a terror organization in a foreign country. Ben Ari
believes that the U.S. government is referring to his membership in
the Kach movement, a far-right political movement that is considered
a terror organization in Israel, Canada, the European Union, and the
United States.

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Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin expresses anger over the decision to
prohibit a Knesset member from entering the U.S.

In a letter addressed to the U.S. ambassador in Israel, Daniel
Shapiro, Rivlin wrote, "I would like to express my protest against
the decision and request that it be reconsidered."

"Mr. Ben Ari is a Knesset member who represents the National Union
party, an entirely legitimate party in the Israeli parliament. As a
public official in Israel, a close ally of the U.S., he cannot be
recognized as a member of a terror group or be prohibited from
visiting the U.S.," Rivlin wrote.